Scoop funnel



June 4, 1957 c. R. NICODEMUS 2,794,457

SCOOP FUNNEL Filed Feb. 4, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

mi Z M United States atent A l SCOOP FUNNEL Chester R. Nicodemus, Columbus, Ohio Application February 4, 1950, Serial No. 142,406

a 3 Claims. (Cl. 141-344) This invention relates to a device for handling material in powdered or granular form, and more particularly to a combined scoop and funnel which facilitates the accurate and careful handling of such material in bulk form. In general, the invention comprises a hollow body portion open at each end. One of the ends form a scoop and the other end forms a funnel. A finger operated valve is provided to control the flow of material from the funnel end.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide the combined scoop and funnel with a simple and efliciently operating valve for opening and closing the funnel end to control the flow of material. This valve is finger operated and provided with means for locking the valve in the open position so that the device can be used continuously as a funnel if so desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which is easily and quickly removed, and which requires a minimum of time and elfort to clean. To accomplish this object, the valve is formed with a. slide member having a slot through which a pin connected to the body portion extends. The slot is provided with an enlarged opening at the end of the slide member adjacent to the funnel end. The head of the pin slides freely through this opening and allows the valve to be removed completely from the body portion when desired. However, this opening is located so that in normal operation of the valve the head of the pin and the opening will not be aligned and allow the valve to be removed inadvertently.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the slide member with an element of substantially tear drop design for closing the funnel end when moved into engagement therewith. This closing element is constructed so as to project slightly from the funnel end when in the fully closed position. This construction facilitates controlling the flow of either powdered or granular material from the body portion, prevents clogging and collecting of such material in the funnel end, and facilitates cleaning operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective-view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

'Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device, shown in Fig. 1, taken substantially on the center line thereof, and showing the valve in the fully closed position in full lines and in dotted lines as it appears when removed;

Fig. 3 is a partial, vertical sectional view showing the valve locked in the open position;

Fig. 4 is a partial, horizontal, sectional and elevational view showing the slide member moved to the position for locking engagement with the connecting pin; and

2,794,457 Patented June 4, 1957 Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, showing the slide member moved to the position fully closing the funnel end.-

Referring further to the drawing, the device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a hollow conical body portion 10 which can be formed of any suitable material, for example, plastic, metal or wood. At one end the body portion flares outwardly and tapers down and to one side to provide a scoop surface, 'as indicated generally at 11. The opposite end of the body portion tapers down to provide a funnel outlet 12.

The valve for opening and closing the funnel end to control the flow of material is indicated generally at 15. This valve is carried on the body portion against and along the inside surface by the headed pin or rivet 16 and is slidable along and parallel to the wall forming the body portion. As shown in the drawings the valve 15 is slidably mounted for manual operation by the thumb or finger of the operator. The thumb piece 17 is provided for this purpose. Valve 15 includes a slide member 18 having the thumb piece 17 formed at one end and the stopper element 19 at the other end, which provides for closing the funnel end 12 when moved into engagement therewith.

The element 19 is substantially a tear drop design and constructed to project from the funnel end 12 when the valve is in the fully closed position, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. This construction of element 19 facilitates accurate control of the flow of material from the body portion, provides for a minimum of crushing or clogging in the funnel end 12 and prevents accumulations requiring frequent cleaning operations.

Slide member 18 is provided with a slot through which the shank of pin 16 extends. The head of pin 16 is of greater diameter than the width of slot 21 and holds the slide member 18 in position. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, slot 21 is provided with an enlarged opening 22 adjacent element 19. The diameter of opening 22 is greater than that of the head of pin 16. Thus, when the slide member 18 is pulled out i. e. fully extended, the opening 22 registers over the head of pin 16 and the slide member can be removed from the body portion.

The slot 21 is formed with a pair of openings 23 and 24, Fig. 5, offset from the main portion of the slot. These openings are cut into the slide member 18 from slot 21 at a slight angle, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, and provide for holding the slide member in a selected or locked position. Referring to Fig. 4, when the slide member is pulled out to a position Where the opening 24, for example, is aligned opposite to pin 16, the thumb piece 17 is moved i. e. twisted slightly sideways. This movement causes the opening 24 to be moved into engagement with the shank of pin 16. In this position the slide member is locked so that it will not move in either direction i. e. in or out with respect to the funnel end 12. When it is desired to release the slide member the thumb piece is moved sideways until the opening 24 no longer registers with pin 16. The slide member then can be moved freely in or out, with respect to the funnel end, to the extent permitted by slot 21.

A grip 30 for the fingers of the operator is fastened to the body portion as shown in Fig. 1. This grip is positioned i. e. spaced between the ends 11 and 12 so that the thumb of the operator readily and conveniently engages the thumb piece 17. Movement of the thumb raises or lowers the slide member suificiently to open or close the funnel end when the fingers are engaged in the grip 31 As illustrated in Fig. l, the body portion 10 is marked off at regular intervals with measuring lines 31. These lines facilitate accurate filling of the scoop where exact quantities of material are to be handled.

ber is locke d in position to hold the stopper away from the funnel end When it is desired to remove the slide member for cleaning purposes, .the slide member is with drawn until the large opening 22 registers with the head of pin 16. a

From the above descriptionitwill'be apparent that the device shown is constructed andoperat'esto accomplish the objects and advantages set forth. However, while the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might beadopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. 'A material handling device comprising a hollow body portion open at each end; one of said ends being in the form of a scoop to providefor scooping material into the body portion; the other of said ends being in the form of a funnel to provide for pouring material out of the body portion; and a valve for opening a'nd closing thefunnel end including a slide member having a slot formed therein, a pin on said body portion extending through said slot to provide for slidably connecting the slide themher to the body portion, said slot being enlarged atone portion thereof sufliciently to provide for sliding the head of said pin therthrough whereby the slide member can beremoved from the body portion at will, one end of the slide member having an element formed to provide'for closing the funnel end ,when moved into engagement therewith, the other fi d f the slide member having a gripfior' the thumb or'fi'n'ger of the operator to facilitate operating the slide member.

2 material handling device comprising a body p ortion open at each end; one of endsbeing inth'e form of a scoop to provide for scooping material into the body portion; theother of said ends being the form of a funnel to provide'for material out of 4 the b .pqrtiqna, an valvetq open g n o inglhe funnel end including a slide member having a slot formed therein, a pin on said body portion extending through said slot to provide for slidably connecting the slide member to the body portion, said slot having an ofi-set opening communicating therewith adapted to engage said pin to provide for locking the slide mernber in a selected posi- 1 tion, one end of the slide member having a tear drop shaped element formed to provide for closing the funnel end when moved into engagement therewith,,-the other end of the slide member having a grip for the thumb or finger of the operator to facilitate operatingtthe slide member.

3. A material handling device comprising a hollow body portion open at each end; one of said ends being in the form of a scoop to provide for scooping material into the body portion; the other of said ends being in the 'form of a 1funnel toprovide for pouring material out of the body portiomand avalveforopening and closingv the funnelend includin'gaslidememberhaving a slot formed:

therein, a pin on, said body portion extending through said slotlto provide, for .slidablyfconhefling the slide member "to the body portion,.said slot being enlarged at one end thereof suflicientl'yto .provide'for sliding the head of said pin threthrough, said slot having an opening offset fro m the main portion thereof which istada'pted to engage said pin'to provide for holding the slide member in a selected position, one end of the slide member having an element formed to providefor closing the funnel e'nd whennio'ved into engagement therewith, the other end of the' slide member-having a grip for the thumb ofthe operator to facilitate operating the slide member, and a finger grip for the hand of the operator carried on tlfe body portion adjacent said thumb gri 8 References Cited in thefile of patent UNIT D STATES PATENTS 47,885 Westcott May 23, 186,5 39 ,4 Bih i3, June 1 0 8 343,871 Kaiilrpen June 15, 18.86 520,307 C iillham May 22, 18.94 53 ,072 Kister -r -a I 9 579,895 Bowell lr. Mar. 30, 1897 ;727,309 Donnell ey ,May 5,1903 1,248,491 Huemann Dec. 4, 19.17.

Shaw Jan. 8/1952 

